Sterilizing means



DC- 19 1933. c. R. MErrzLER 1,939,714

STERILIZING MEANS Filed nay ze, 1932 4 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 19, 1933.

c. R. MElTzLER 1,939,714

STERILI ZING MEANS Filed llay 26, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 19., 1933.:I R, ME|TZLER 1,939,714,

STERILIZING MEANS Dec. 19, 1933. c R MErrzL-ER 1,939,714

STERILIZING MEANS Filed lay 26. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 19,1933 PATENT OFFICE rs'rnarnrznac. MEANS CharleslL Meitzler, RochestenN.Y., assigner to Oscar H. Pieper and Alphonse F. Pieper, both ofRochester, N. Y.

Application May 26, 1932. Serial No. 613,707

12 Claims.

This invention relates to sterilizers, and has to do with sterilizingmeans for use in sterilizing dental instruments, dressings, and foranalogous purposes.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide means of simpleconstruction and operation for sterilizing dressings, towels and thelike and facilitating drying of such articles after they have beensterilized. A further object is to lo provide simple and improved meansfor opening and closing the cover of the sterilizer. Further objects andadvantages will appear from the detail description.

In the drawingsz--J lizing apparatus in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of the sterilizer cabinet, partlybroken away, illustrating the l) foot levers for operating thesterilizer covers, on

an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the top of the sterilizer cabinettaken from front to back thereof, showing the sterilizer and associated$5 parts, parts being shown in elevation, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3, on anenlarged scale;

Figure 5 is an end view of the tank of the o dressings sterilizer withthe parts adjusted Vfor sterilizing;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 with the parts adjusted fordrying the sterilized articles;

Figure 7 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantiallyon line 7-7 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken substantiallyon line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary end view of the o dressings sterilizer withthe wall of the tank part- 1y broken away to expose the upper portion ofthe wall of the container within the tank;

Figure 10 is an outer face view of the outer valve plate with the upperportion thereof and the intervening portion of the wall of the tankbroken away to expose the outer face of the inner valve plate.

The sterilizing apparatus is conveniently mounted in a suitable cabinetl comprising a top 2 provided with suitably disposed openings whichaccommodate an instrument sterilizer 3 and a lower water tank 4 of atowel or dressings steri lizer. The dressings sterilizer comprises anupper tank or casing 5 open at its lower end and provided with a reducedextension 6 adapted to Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a steri.

nt snugly into the upper end of tank 4 so as to form a steam tightclosure therewith. Preferably, tank 5 is anchored to top 2 of thecabinet in a suitable manner which permits of quick release of the tank.Conveniently, an angle bracket 6a is suitably secured to each end oftank 5 and is slotted for reception of a swinging bolt 7 pivoted in aU-bracket 8 suitably secured to top 2, this bolt receiving a thumb nut9. Suitable means may also lbe provided for holding the sterilizer 3against upward movement relative to top 2.

Sterilizer 3 is provided with a suitable cover 10 hinged at 11 formovement into and out of closed position, tank 5 being provided with acover 12 70 hinged at 13. A connecting rod 14 is pivoted at its upperend, at 15, to a bracket 16 suitably secured to cover 10 of sterilizer3. The lower end of this rod passes through a finger 17 at the upper endof a link 18, and disposed at right angles thereto, this rod threadingthrough a stud 19 pivotally secured to link 18. Link 18 is pivotallyconnected, at its lower end, at 19a, to an operating lever 20 pivoted at21 to a bracket plate 22 which is suitably secured to and depends fromtop 2 adjacent one end of sterilizer 3. Lever 20 is pivotally secured atits other end, at 23, to a cylinder 24 slidable on a plunger 25 which ispivoted at its upper end, at 26, to plate 22, this plunger having a snugfit with the cylinder and constituting therewith a dash-pot. Air isadmitted to the lower end of cylinder 24 through a. duct 27 controlledby a valve 28 of known type to regulate the air bleed. The cylinder isalso provided with an upper air port 29 disposed to be uncovered whenthe cylinder reaches its lowermost position so as to assure an adequate1 charge of air in the cylinder when upward movement thereof isinitiated.

A headed stud 30 is secured to lever 20 adjacent pivot 23. This studextends through a slot 3l in an operating link 32 and through an openingin an adjusting plate 33 carried by the link, the opening of this platebeing aligned with the slot 31 of the link. Plate 33 is adjustablymounted on link 32 by means of screws 34 which pass through washers 35and through slots 36 in plate 33, these screws threading into link 32.This provides simple means for securing the plate 33 to the link 32 andfor effecting relative adjustment therebetween. A hooked latch 37 ispivoted at 38 on plate 33, the hook portion of this latch engaging aboutpin 30 between the head thereof and the adjacent face of plate 33, thusestablishing an operating connection between link 32 and 110 lever 20.The latch 37 is provided with a flnger 39 having a depression forming adetent element 40 which engages into a corresponding recess in plate 33for` releasably holding the latch 37 in operative position. Link 32 ispivoted at its lower end, at 41, to a lug 42 of a foot lever 43 pivotedat its inner end, at 44, on an element 45 of base frame 46 of thecabinet. This lever extends through an opening 47 in the front wall ofthe cabinet and is provided, at its outer end, with a pedal 43a. Whenpedal 43a is depressed, the forward end of lever 20 is swung downwardlyso as to open cover 10 of the sterilizer 3. As cover 10 approaches fullopen position, a finger 50, which projects from lever 20 at right anglesthereto, contacts a cushion spring 51 carried by a tab 52 projectingfrom bracket plate 22, this spring serving to cushion movement of lever20 in the final opening movement of cover 10.

Bracket plate 22 is provided with a cam slot 53 in which operates a pinor equivalent lmember (not shown) projecting from the inner face of link20 for controlling the movement of this link in such manner as to openand close the cover 10. When pedal 43av is depressed, the cover 10 ismoved into open position, as stated, and upon release of the pedal thepin, which operates in cam slot 53, drops into a recess at the upper endof this slot, this recess being indicated at 53a, so as to hold thecover open. When the lever 43 is again depressed, the pin is raised outof recess 53a and travels along shoulder 53h to the upper end of theinner or rear run of the slot 53, so that, when lever 43 is againreleased, the cam pin travels downwardly in the cam slot to permit ofclosing of cover 10. The weight 'of cover 10 and rod 14 and associatedparts may be relied upon for closing the cover and raising foot lever 43or, if desired, any suitable yielding means may be employed for raisingthis foot lever. In the opening and closing of cover 10 smooth operationof the latter is assured by the dash-pot connection between lever 20 andbracket plate 22.

A second lever 55 is pivoted on element 45 of base frame 46 in the samemanner as and adjacent lever 43, this lever 55 being provided at itsouter end with a pedal 56. Lever 55 is connected by a link 32a, andlever 20 and associated parts, to cover 12 of sterilizer tank 5. Themeans for opening and closing the cover 12 of tank 5 is the same as thatfor opening and closing the cover 10 of sterilizer 3, with the exceptionthat connecting rod 14a is of greater length than connecting rod 14, andneed not be further described. The latches 37 provide quick releasemeans for attaching the links 32 and 32a to the levers 20. By moving thelatches 37 into inoperative position, and disengaging the pins 30 fromthe links y and the associated plates 33, links 32 and 32a aredisconnected from the levers 20 so that top 2 and the parts carriedthereby may be re'moved as a unit from the cabinet. The cabinet 1 may beprovidedwith suitably disposed openings, normally covered by a removablepanel 1a, such openings being disposed to give ready access to the upperportions of links 32 and 32a and latches 37 and-associated parts.

Top 2 of the cabinet is provided with a water reservoir 60 with whichcommunicates a water supply tank or container 61, means being providedfor maintaining the water in the tank 66 at a predetermined level. Watertank or reservoir 60 communicates with sterilizer 3 and tank 4, andsuitable means is provided for heating the water in the tank and thesterilizer. 'I'he means for supplying the sterilizers with water and forheating the water therein may be of any suitable or preferred type, butis preferably that disclosed in my co-pending application forSterilizer, Serial No. 478,338, filed August 28, 1930. Such means neednot be illustrated nor described here, it being sufcient to note thatsuitable means may be provided for supplying water to the sterilizertanks and for heating such water.

A container 62 is supported within tank 5 in spaced relation thereto anddefines therewith a steam space 63 extending about the container andopening into the open lower end of tank 5. Conveniently, the upperportion of container 62 is beaded over the upper portion of the wall oftank 5 so asto be suspended therefrom and close the upper end of space63, as in Figure 7. The container 62 is adapted to receive a perforatedtray or basket 64, which basket contains towels, dressings and analogousarticles to be sterilized. When the tank 5 is in position upon the lowertank 4, and the water in tank 4 is heated to or above boilingtemperature, steam is generated and flows into the space 63 about thecontainer 64.

Container 62 is provided, in an end wall thereof, with a circulardepression 65 which is disposed coaxially with a circular depression 66in the adjacent end wall of tank 5. Depression 65 receives an innervalve 'plate or disc 67 and depression 66 receives a similar valve disc68. The discs 67 and 68 are suitably mounted on a stud shaft 69, forturning movement therewith, this stud shaft being rotatably mountedthrough the adjacent end walls of the container 62 and the tank 5. Anoperating handle 70, provided with a suitable knob 71, is secured by ascrew 72 to stud shaft 69 for imparting rotation thereto. Movement ofarm 70 in either direction is limited by a vstop member 73 mounted onthe side wall of tank 5 in concentric relation to recess 66 andprovided, at each end, with an outwardly extending flange constituting astop element for contact with arm 70. The side wall of container 66 isprovided,'in the depression 65 thereof, with two ports 75 disposed atdiametrically opposite sides of the stud shaft 69. Tank 5 is providedwith two ports 76 extending through the depressed portion 66 of the tankwall, these ports being disposed in advance of the respective ports 75,in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 9. The inner valve plateor disc 67 is provided with two ports 78 disposed to register with ports75 when valve handle 70 is in the position shown in Figure 5, and theouter valve disc is provided with two ports disposed to register withports 76 when the valve handle 70 is in the position shown in Figure 6,ports 80 of the outer valve disc being disposed in alignment with ports78 of the inner disc.

Handle 70 is provided, at its inner end, with an angularly disposed armconveniently formed integral with the handle and forming therewith abell crank. A pin 86 is secured to the outer end of arm 85 and projectsbeyond the outer face thereof for contact with the upper edge 87a of anotch 88 opening rearwardly of an arm 89 suitably secured to anddepending from cover 12. The upper end of rod 14a is pivotallyconnected, at 90, to arm 89 for opening and closing cover 12 in themanner previously described. Pin 86 is disposed to contact the upperedge or surface 87a of the notch 88, when arm 70 is moved downwardlyinto the position of Figure 6, the pin exerting a camming action onsurface 87a so as to raise the cover 12 and open it to a predeterminedextent when arm 70 is in its lowermost position.

With arm I0 in its upper position shown in Figure 5, p orts are inregister with ports 78 ot the ixmeilvalve disc, and ports '16 are closedby the outer valve disc. Under such conditions, the steam from space 63flows into container 62 and about the perforated basket 64 so as to flowthrough and sterilize dressings, towels and analogous articles containedwithin the basket. After such articles have been thoroughly sterilized,handle 7,0 is moved into its lowered position shown in Figure 6, inwhich position of the handle cover 12 is opened to a predeterminedextent and ports 75 are closed by the inner valve disc, ports 76 being,at this time, in register with port 80 of the outer valve disc. In thismanner, the supply of steam from space 63 to the container is cut off,and this space 63 is vented to the atmosphere. With handle 70 in itslowered position, the steam iiows upwardly about container 62 in contacttherewith so as to heat this container and the articles in the basket 64so as to quickly dry the latter, the moisture driven ofi from thearticles in the basket escaping through the opening provided by thecover 12 in its partially raised position. The valve structure,including the handle '10 and arm 85 provides, in conjunction with arm 89and associated parts, simple and highly efficient means for sterilizingthe articles in basket 64 and for rapidly drying the sterilized articlesby proper movement of handle 70. With handle 70 in its raised position,steam is admitted to the container 62 for sterilizing the articles and,when it is desired to dry the sterilized articles, it is only necessaryto move the handle 70 into its lowered position, this one movement ofthe handle accomplishing the proper adjustment of the valves and alsoopening the cover 12 to a predetermined extent. This avoids possibilityof the operator failing to adjust the parts for accomplishing thedesired results, which frequently occurs where it is necessary to adjusttwo or more valves or other mechanisms in sterilizers or analogousapparatus.

What I claim is:-

1. In sterilizing means, a tank structure comprising an outer wall andan inner wall defining a steam receiving space, a cover for closing thetank, the inner wall having a port therethrough and the outer wallhaving a port therethrough, valve means for closing the port of theouter wall and opening the port of the inner wall and vice versa, andmeans actuated by the valve means for opening the Vcover when the portof the inner wall is closed and the port of the outer wall is opened.

2. In sterilizing means, a tank, a container within the tank in spacedrelation theretov and defining therewith a steam receiving space, acover for closing the tank, control means for admitting steam from saidspace into the container or closing the steam space to the container andventing the steam from said space, optionally, and means actuated by thecontrol means for opening the cover when the steam space is closed tothe container.

3. In sterilizing means, a tank, a container within the tank in spacedrelation thereto and defining therewith a steam receiving spaceextending about the container, valve means for admitting steam from saidspace to the container or cutting oif the supply of steam to thecontainer and venting steam from the steam space, optionally, a coverfor the tank, and means/actuated by the valve means for opening thecover when the supply of steam to the container is cut oi.

4. In sterilizing means, a tank, a container within the tank in spacedrelation thereto and defining therewith a steam receiving spaceextending about the container, the container and the tank having portstherein for escape of steam from said space, valve plates positionableto open and close the ports of the container and the ports of the tankin opposite relation, means for operating the valve plates, a cover forthe tank, and means actuated by said operating means for opening thecover when the tank ports are opened.w

5. In sterilizing means,` a tank, a container Within the tank in spacedrelation thereto and defining therewith a steam receiving spaceextending about the container, a cover for the tank, and meansadjustable for admitting steam from said space to the container or forcutting off the admission of steam to the container and opening thecover by the act of cutting olf said admission of steam, optionally.

6. In sterilizing means, a tank, a container within the tank in spacedrelation thereto and defining therewith a steam receiving spaceextending about the container, a cover for the tank, and meansadjustable for admitting steam from said space to the container or forcutting oi the admission of steam to the container and venting the steamfrom the steam space and also opening the cover, by the act of cuttingoff said admission of steam and venting the steam space, optionally.

7. In sterilizing means, a tank, a container within the tank in spacedrelation thereto and defining therewith a steam receiving spaceextending abpit the container, the container and the tank h ving portstherein for escape of steam vfrom said space, valve discs rotatablymounted adjacent the Walls of the tank and the container, respectively,and having ports disposed to open and close the ports of the tank andthe container in opposite relation in the turning of the discs, a handleexterior of the tank and connected to the discs -for turning the latter,a cover for the tank, and means cooperating with the handle for openingthe cover when said handle is moved into position to open the tankports.

8. In sterilizing means, a tank, a container within the tank in spacedrelation thereto and defining therewith a steam receiving spaceextending about the container, the container and the tank having portstherein for escape of steam from said space, valve means for opening andclosing the ports of the container and the ports of the tank in oppositerelation, a handle exterior of the tank and connected to the valve meansfor operating the latter, and means cooperating with the handle foropening the cover when said handle is moved into position to open thetank ports.

9. In sterilizing means, a tank, a container `within the tank in spacedrelation thereto and dening therewith a steam receiving space extendingabout the conainer, the container and the tank having ports therein forescape of steam from said space, valve means for opening and closing theports of the container and the ports of the tank in opposite relation, ahandle exterior of ihe tank and connected to the valve means foroperating the latter, and an arm secured to and depending from thecover, said arm and the handie having cooperating means for opening thecover when the handle is moved into position to open the tank ports.

10. In combination in sterilizing apparatus, a cabinet, a top therefor,sterilizing means including a tank carried by said top, a cover for thetank, a bracket plate depending from the top, an operating lever pivotedon said plate, operating conneclions between the lever and the tankcover for opening and closing the latter, a -foot lever mounted in thecabinet, a link connected at its lower end to said foot lever, and latchmeans releasably connecting the upper end o! the link to the operatinglever.

l1. In combination in sterllizing apparatus, a cabinet, a top therefor,sterllizing means including a tank carried by said top, a cover for thetank, a bracket plate depending from the top, an operating lever pivotedon said plate, operating connections between the lever and the tankcover for opening and closing the latter, a foot lever mounted'in thecabinet, a link connected at its lower end to said foot lever, latchmeans releasably connecting the upper end of the link to the operatinglever, and a dash-pot connecting the operating lever to the bracketplate.

12. In combination in sterilizing apparatus, a cabinet, a top therefor,sterilizing means including a tank carried by said top, a cover for thetank, a bracket plate depending from the top, an operating lever pivotedon said plate, operating connections between the lever and the tankcover for opening and closing the latter, a foot lever mounted in thecabinet, a link connected at its lower end to said foot lever, latchmeans releasably connecting the upper end of the link to the operatinglever, and cushioning means connected to and cushioning movement of theoperating level'.

CHARLES R. MEITZLER.

